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As we are familiar with baby proofing our home, similarly, there is also a need to Alzheimer's proof a home for someone with memory loss.
With safety being the main focus, it is a good idea to have scissors, knives, guns (this is West Virginia), and other sharp objects or weapons, locked up and out of sight. There have been several situations where someone with Alzheimer's disease used a weapon to the detriment of themselves or others.
Thinking about the aesthetic of a home, some helpful tips would be as follows:
Make sure the paint color on the walls differs from the carpet or flooring. Memory loss folks cannot differentiate wall from floor if colors are the same or similar. This could lead to an accident of walking into the wall, or having the person feel trapped.
On the same token, having breaks in the floor from carpet to hard wood or tile usually causes the person to step up higher or slowly put one foot out, stepping gingerly.
This is very evident if the carpet is dark in color. Several people will think it is a hole, and will eventually avoid it or not cross over the threshold.
Make sure to have bright lighting in all areas of the house. This includes leaving the bathroom light on at night, night lights to lead a pathway down hallways, and natural light from windows during the day.
The use of blinds or curtains: several people suffer from sundowning. Sundowning is when the sun starts to set and darkness increases. A person with memory loss will start to see shadows, or feel less able to do things when it gets dark outside. This can lead to behaviors because the person is insecure about their ability to function independently.
Sundowning can be an actual diagnosis, as around 4/5 p.m., the person starts to "act out" due to confusion. It is best to get ahead of the sundowning experience by closing curtains or blinds around 3 p.m. Turn more lights on in the home and try some distracting activities. Ask your loved one to help in the kitchen with dinner, set the table, pour water into drinking cups, etc. Have continued conversation as they complete tasks. This will help them get through the sundowning time of the day.
Lastly, having the television on all day and evening is not a great distraction. Have you ever watched the news and only seen GREAT stories of love and laughter? No. The news usually focuses on negative, sad, stories to get people interested and "hooked." As sad as it is to say, things that frighten us get more attention than heartfelt stories. Currently there is a lot of news concerning conflicts around the world, war and/or the possibility of war, political debates and issues. This can cause a person to internalize what is on the television, and actually put themselves in the drama. Limiting the news is the best option, and try watching "feel good" shows, preferably only a half hour long. This is better than an hour-long show or movie.
I will continue discussing proofing of a home next week as there are still several topics to discuss.